A Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia can help answer your questions if you are injured in a Lyft or Uber accident. For instance, what happens if you are injured as a passenger while using a ride share company such as Lyft or Uber? Or, who is responsible if you are injured by a Lyft or Uber driver as a pedestrian, cyclist, or driver of another vehicle involved in a multi-car accident? How can you obtain compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and even lost time at work? If any of these scenarios apply to you, then you need to secure the advice of an experienced Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia.
Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia
A seasoned Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia to advocate for you to receive fair compensation for your injuries. In 2016, Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 985 into effect making ride sharing legal in all locations in Pennsylvania. Additionally, this bill secured protections for passengers of ride share companies by requiring them to carry ride share insurance that recognizes that they drive for Lyft, Uber, or a comparable service. This Transportation Network Company (TNC) is required to provides insurance for a vehicle for hire. The legislature sets forth minimums of liability insurance that ride share drivers must carry. A Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia is familiar with these liability requirements and can help victims involved in a ride share accident to obtain compensation for their injuries.
In addition to the ride share insurance required by individual ride share drivers, victims of Lyft and Uber accidents may have coverage under the ride share company itself. Further, you may be entitled to other payments through Workers Compensation or other insurance policies. Given the many insurance policies and coverages that may be involved, Uber and Lyft accident claims can be challenging to navigate. A Lyft and Uber accident lawyer in Philadelphia can advocate on your behalf to ensure that you are properly compensated for your losses from the insurance company.
In addition to requirements for insurance coverage for ride share drivers, Senate Bill 985 outlines requirements for the vehicles used in transporting passengers of ride share programs. Unfortunately, multiple passengers of these ride share services have reported that the vehicles servicing them were not up to inspection standards. The neglect of the ride share driver to properly maintain their vehicle may be result in significant injury when that vehicle is involved in a crash. A Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia can help determine a driver’s negligence in maintaining their vehicle contributed to the crash and subsequent injuries of the vehicles passengers.
Potential Insurance Issues with Philadelphia Uber Accidents
If you were a passenger in an Uber vehicle, or if you were struck by an Uber as a passenger or bicyclist, there is likely insurance coverage to pay for your injuries. However, difficulty can arise when multiple insurers start pointing fingers to try to avoid paying the claim. The driver’s actions and activities at the time of the accident will help determine which insurance company is liable for payment. There are three distinct time periods to understand:
Uber App is OFF
At this stage, the Uber driver does not have the Uber App turned on, and they are not actively receiving ride requests. Uber considers this stage as the driver operating their car for personal use. If an accident occurs in this stage, the driver’s personal insurance is in effect and Uber will not supplement the driver’s personal insurance. The Uber driver’s personal auto insurance policy may only cover the minimum required by state law.
Uber App is ON without a Passenger
During this stage, the Uber driver has logged into the Uber app and is available for passengers. Uber’s coverage in this stage is contingent upon the driver’s insurance. This contingent coverage may apply if the driver’s personal auto insurance has lapsed, or if the driver is otherwise underinsured. Uber’s coverage may cover personal injury during this stage, as long as the app is on.
Uber App is ON and Passenger is Accepted
A driver in this stage has not accepted a passenger and is on the way to pick them up and drive them to their destination. From the moment of passenger acceptance, Uber’s liability coverage applies. Once the customer is delivered to their destination, the coverage will revert back to contingency coverage or the driver’s personal automobile coverage, depending on the status of the app.
Do I need a Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer, or Should I Represent Myself?
Sorting through the liability from multiple insurance carriers can be tricky, especially since multiple insurance companies may be involved. An experienced Lyft and Uber Accident layer in Philadelphia has years of experience about automobile insurance policies and understands the ins and outs of how insurance companies work. Keep in mind, that the insurance companies have lawyers on their payroll to minimize the cost of claims or to deny them outright if possible. Many times, the insurance companies will try to deflect their liability to another carrier. A Philadelphia rideshare lawyer can advocate for your rights and represent your interests to the insurance companies in order to help you get the best possible result.
Every case is unique. When deciding to hire a lawyer, consider the severity of your injuries and the anticipated length of your recovery. You may have a significant claim that warrants a consultation with an attorney if one of the following is true about your injuries:
- Your injury will affect you for a long time
- Your injury resulted in hospitalization
- You missed work or school because of your injury
- Your injury resulted in a loss of income
- You had extensive medical bills due to the injury
- Your injury may result in permanent disabilities
These serious injuries can have a significant impact on your life. The more that you have at stake, the more important it is to have capable attorney representation. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers to minimize settlements and deny claims. The higher the amount of the claim, the harder the insurance companies work to fight it.
Injuries that are long-lasting or result in permanent damages can affect your quality of life and ability to work. These cases can be extremely complex and challenging. A Lyft and Uber Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia can project and calculate future losses, such as future medical expenses or lost wages, related to your injury.
Call the Wieand Law Firm for a free consultation to better understand your legal options and decide whether hiring a rideshare accident lawyer is the right choice for you.
Statements to Insurance Companies after an Accident
Following an accident, injured victims are frequently contacted by the driver’s insurance company. The insurance company will request to get a recorded statement and medical authorizations. The Lyft and Uber Accident lawyer in Philadelphia strongly encourages you to contact a lawyer prior to speaking with the insurance company. Opposing insurers will often try to use your statement or your past medical history against you when settling a claim.
Will Uber Reject Future Rides if I File a Claim?
Some injured passengers are weary about filing a claim due to concerns that they will lose access to the Uber platform that allows them to get to work or travel. Fortunately, there is no example of Uber denying a passenger access due to filing a claim. If you have been injured in an Uber accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to a car accident lawyer Philadelphia PA trusts to seek compensation for your injuries.
Seeking Compensation After an Uber Accident in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania state law allows victims to file a claim for up to two years after the date that you were injured in a rideshare accident. However, our rideshare accident lawyers recommend filing a claim as soon as feasible. We have seen many injured victims give up their rights to pursue a claim because they waited too long to act. These cases are complex and often involve insurance companies, contract, and personal injury law. An experienced Lyft and Uber accident lawyer in Philadelphia understands the rules of evidence and civil procedures involved in filing a legal claim. Often, injured victims are unaware that they may even have the right to make a claim under their own insurance policy if the at-fault driver’s insurance is not enough to cover their injuries.
Victims of Lyft and Uber accidents deserve representation from a competent and skilled Lyft and Uber Accident lawyer in Philadelphia who will doggedly pursue compensation for their injuries. The Wieand Law Firm, LLC will take the time to listen compassionately to your individual situation and provide that expert advice you need to take action. To speak with a Lyft and Uber Accident lawyer in Philadelphia at the Wieand Law Firm, LLC call us today at 215-666-7777 to receive a free, no obligation consultation.
Liability for Rideshare Injuries
To file the right insurance claims for compensation, it’s necessary to identify who is liable for your injuries. In many cases, the Lyft driver is the negligent party who caused the accident. However, in some cases, the following parties may also have liability for your injuries.
- The rideshare company – Lyft and Uber are required to take certain precautions prior to allowing an individual to drive for their company. Rideshare companies may be liable if they were aware that an individual with a conviction for DUI is driving for their company and that individual causes an accident. Or, if the rideshare company allowed a driver with criminal convictions for a violent crime to drive and that driver assaulted and seriously injured a passenger.
- Third-party drivers – Drivers of other vehicles can strike a Lyft vehicle that is carrying passengers and cause catastrophic injuries. When a third-party driver act negligently and causes an accident, you can seek compensation for the injuries you sustained from their negligence.
The Wieand Law Firm will thoroughly investigate the cause of your rideshare accident to help ensure that you receive full compensation for your losses.
What Types of Compensation is Available After a Lyft or Uber Accident?
The rideshare accident attorneys at the Wieand Law Firm will thoroughly investigate your case, identify the various insurance companies involved, and identify the best possible compensation for your claim. The types of compensation that you are entitled to will depend on the specifics of your case. Injured victims may be entitled to the following forms of compensation:
Economic damages – compensation for monetary losses that can be objectively verified:
- Medical and Hospital expenses
- Ambulances bills
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Property damages
- Lost wages due to your injuries
- Nursing home or assisted living care
- Home health care
Some rideshare accident victims may require treatments that take several months to fully resolve. Others may have expenses and losses that extend for years into the future. Our firm regularly seeks compensation for past expenses as well as future medical expenses, such as an anticipated surgery.
Some clients have injuries that prevent them from return to work and performing their previous job duties, so they have to seek a different type of job that does not pay as much. In some cases, victims may not be able to return to work again in any capacity. Accounting for lost wages and earning capacity are important components in calculating economic damages.
Non-Economic damages – compensation for damages for subjective losses. These can be difficult to calculate and benefit from the insight of an experienced injury attorney.
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life’s enjoyments
A skilled Lyft and Uber accident lawyer in Philadelphia will understand how to calculate and prove your intangible losses to help you seek full compensation for your injuries.
Punitive damages – compensation for wanton or willful disregard or malicious conduct that is available in some personal injury cases. This compensation is generally intended to punish defendants and deter future negligence or misconduct.
What is the Value of My Case?
While statistics can show the average damages after a rideshare accident case, these statistics are largely irrelevant to the value of any individual case. An rideshare accident lawyer can review the relevant facts in your case and help you understand your potential case value.
Sometimes, insurance companies use specific methods, such as the multiplier method, to calculate pain and suffering. The multiplier is generally based on the severity of injuries and the circumstances of the accident. The multiplier is then applied to determine the accident’s true cost. In some situations, this method can fail to account for long-term costs and damages. Therefore, speak with a qualified Philadelphia personal injury lawyer about what you may anticipate your claim to be worth.
Contact the Wieand Law Firm, LLC Today
If you have been injured while using Lyft or Uber and have questions about next steps, reach out to our experienced rideshare accident lawyers for help. A car accident is traumatic for both the victim and their families. A Philadelphia personal injury lawyer at the Wieand Law Firm can help the victim take control and seek payment for their injuries. Call 215-666-7777 today to speak directly with an attorney or contact us on the website form.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The information provided may contain errors or be out of date.
